Tag: local businesses

Does Your Business Need a Makeover?

How Print, Digital, and Design Services Can Transform Your Brand

In a competitive marketplace, your business needs to stand out more than ever. Whether you’re a tradesman, dog groomer, or small business owner, staying fresh and relevant is key to attracting new customers and keeping existing ones engaged. But how do you know if your business is in need of a makeover? More importantly, what changes can you make to give it the boost it needs? 

In this blog post, we’ll explore how giving your business a makeover with print, digital marketing, and design services can enhance your brand, improve customer experience, and drive growth. 

Signs Your Business Might Need a Makeover 

Before diving into solutions, let’s first identify some common signs that your business might need a refresh: 

  • Outdated branding: If your logo, business cards, or website design look outdated, it could be time for a fresh new look. 
  • Inconsistent customer experience: If your print materials don’t align with your digital presence, customers might feel confused or disengaged. 
  • Lack of online visibility: Struggling to get noticed online or rank well in search results? You may need a digital marketing boost. 
  • Declining engagement: If fewer people are interacting with your business, whether on social media or in person, a new marketing strategy might help re-energise your brand. 

If any of these signs sound familiar, a makeover could be exactly what your business needs. 

The Power of Print: A Tangible Connection with Customers 

Even in our digital age, print marketing remains a powerful tool for small businesses. Printed materials like business cards, flyers, brochures, and direct mail provide a physical connection between your brand and your customers. They can leave a lasting impression, especially when they’re well-designed and professionally produced. 

Here’s how a print makeover can help your business: 

  • Professional designs: Well-designed print materials immediately elevate your brand, making it appear more polished and trustworthy. 
  • Consistency: Updating your print designs to match your digital branding creates a seamless customer experience across all touchpoints. 
  • Targeted marketing: Use flyers or direct mail campaigns to target specific local areas and reach potential customers who might not be online. 

With fresh, cohesive print materials, your business will look modern and professional, which can inspire more trust from potential clients. 

Digital Marketing: Expanding Your Reach Online 

If your business isn’t taking full advantage of digital marketing, you’re missing out on a huge opportunity to reach new customers. A digital marketing makeover could include everything from a revamped website to a new social media strategy and even paid advertising campaigns. 

Here’s how we can help you modernise your digital presence: 

  • Website redesign: Your website is your digital storefront, and it needs to reflect the quality of your services. We offer custom website designs that are user-friendly, mobile-optimised, and tailored to your brand. 
  • Search engine optimization (SEO): Improving your website’s SEO will help you rank higher in search engine results, making it easier for potential customers to find you. 
  • Paid digital advertising: Google Ads, Facebook Ads, and other paid advertising platforms allow you to target your ideal audience with precision, driving more qualified traffic to your business. 
  • Social media management: A consistent, engaging social media presence is essential for connecting with today’s customers. We can help you craft posts that not only promote your services but also foster engagement with your audience. 

With the right digital strategies in place, you can reach more customers, grow your brand, and increase inquiries. 

Design Services: Make a Lasting Impression 

A strong brand identity starts with great design. From your logo to your website layout and marketing materials, design plays a huge role in how your business is perceived. If your brand looks inconsistent, unprofessional, or outdated, it may be time for a design refresh. 

Here’s how we can help transform your brand’s design: 

  • Logo redesign: If your logo looks old-fashioned or doesn’t represent your business anymore, a logo redesign can breathe new life into your brand. 
  • Brand identity overhaul: We create cohesive branding packages, ensuring that your colors, fonts, and overall style are consistent across all platforms—online and offline. 
  • Website design: A visually appealing, easy-to-navigate website is essential for making a great first impression. We’ll work with you to design a site that reflects your unique business and attracts customers. 

Whether it’s a fresh new logo or a complete rebrand, investing in high-quality design services can significantly improve how customers view and interact with your business. 

How We Can Help You Transform Your Business 

At Local Pages, we specialise in offering print, digital marketing, and design services that give your business the makeover it needs to thrive. We know that every business is unique, so we work closely with you to understand your goals and create a plan tailored specifically to your needs. Whether you’re looking for a small refresh or a complete rebrand, we’re here to help. 

Ready for Your Business Makeover? 

If you think it’s time to give your business a fresh new look and attract more customers, we’re here to help. With our print, digital, and design services, we’ll work with you to create a brand identity that’s modern, cohesive, and effective. 

Visit The Little Blue Blog for more insights or contact us today for a free consultation at 0117 923 1122 or info@localpages.co.uk. Let’s give your business the makeover it deserves! screenshot-2024-10-22-115307

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Digital Marketing Must-Haves for Local Businesses going into 2025

Elevate your digital presence in 2025

As a local business owner – whether you’re a tradesman, hairstylist, dog groomer, or restaurant owner – having a strong online presence is crucial. It’s not enough to have a website and a Facebook page; in the growing and developing online world it’s important to do as much as you can to get your business found online. Here are four essential digital marketing elements to help your local business thrive in 2024: 

 

1.Google Business Profile Optimization

Google Business Profile (formerly Google My Business) is a free tool that allows businesses to manage their online presence across Google, including Search and Maps – it’s the little box that appears on the tight when Googling a business. It’s crucial for local SEO (see below) and helps customers find and connect with your business. Google Business Profile is often the first point of contact for potential customers. It’s important you keep on top of your page by: 

  • Go to google.com/business and claim your listing if you haven’t already! A good way to check is opening a tab in incognito mode and searching up your business 
  • Keep your information up-to-date (hours, services, contact details) 
  • Regularly post updates, offers, and photos 
  • Encourage and respond to customer reviews 

 

2. Omnichannel Marketing 

Omnichannel Marketing is all about creating a seamless experience for your customers across all touchpoints – both online and offline, whether they’re browsing your website, receiving emails or checking your social media. For local businesses, this means connecting your physical location, website, social media and customer service efforts: 

  • Ensure consistent messaging across social media, email, and your website, including consistent branding and voice. For more tips on how to build and maintain your brand, you can read our help guide here 
  • Implement cross-channel retargeting strategies for customers that leave your website or social media without taking action 
  • Use customer data to provide personalized experiences regardless of the platform 

 

3. Local SEO Strategy 

SEO, or Search Engine Optimization, is probably the most important thing to consider when trying to attract more website visitors. Essentially, you want your website to appear at the very top of all search results when a key word or phrase is searched on Google. There’s a couple things you can do to appear more often in those organic search results locally: 

  • Use location-based keywords (e.g., “hairstylist in [Your City]”) 
  • Create location-specific pages on your website 
  • Build citations on local business directories 

4. Online Booking and Payment Systems 

Convenience is the number one seller – the easier it is to reach you and buy your product/service – the better. Make it easy for customers to do business with you: 

  • Implement an online booking system for appointments 
  • Offer contactless payment options (cash is not widely used anymore!) 
  • Consider a loyalty program to encourage repeat business 
  • A fully operational e-commerce website for goods and products 

 

By incorporating these digital marketing must-haves, you’ll be well-equipped to attract and retain local customers in the increasingly digital marketplace of 2024, going into 2025. The upcoming New Year is a good time to consider evaluating and expanding your digital marketing strategy.  

Local Pages offers free consultations about your marketing needs. We pride ourselves on our bespoke approach, so don’t wait and level up your digital presence in 2025! Book a consultation here. 

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What Is PPC and Is It Right For You?

As a business owner, you may have heard the term PPC floating around in digital marketing conversations, but what exactly is PPC, and how can it benefit your business? At Local Pages, alongside our print directories and digital products, we offer a comprehensive Pay-Per-Click (PPC) advertising service to help your business get found by potential customers online. In this article, we’ll explain what PPC is and help you decide if it’s the right strategy for you.

What is PPC?

PPC stands for Pay-Per-Click; a type of online advertising where you pay a fee each time someone clicks on your ad. Instead of trying to “earn” traffic organically, PPC allows you to buy visits to your website, ensuring your business gets immediate visibility in search results, social media, or other digital platforms. The most popular form of PPC is Google Ads, where advertisers bid on specific keywords to have their ads appear at the top of Google’s search results.

In simple terms – you’re paying to get in front of people searching for your products or services, and you only pay when someone takes action by clicking on your ad.

How Does PPC Work?

PPC advertising is based on a bidding system. Advertisers bid on keywords that are relevant to their business, and when a user searches for that keyword, an auction is triggered. Ads are displayed based on factors like:

  • Bid Amount: How much you’re willing to pay per click.
  • Ad Quality: Google and other platforms take into account the relevance of your ad, landing page quality, and how likely users are to click on it.

If your ad wins the auction, it will appear in the search results or other online platforms. When users click on your ad, they are directed to your website, and you’re charged for that click.

What Are the Benefits of PPC?

PPC offers a range of benefits that can give your business a competitive edge:

  1. Instant Visibility: Unlike SEO (Search Engine Optimization), which can take months to see results, PPC provides almost immediate exposure in search engines like Google or on social media platforms.
  2. Highly Targeted: PPC allows you to target specific audiences by choosing keywords, demographics, geographic locations, device types, and even the time of day when your ads are displayed.
  3. Cost Control: With PPC, you have complete control over your budget. You set a daily or monthly cap on how much you’re willing to spend, and once you hit that limit, your ads will stop showing, ensuring you never overspend.
  4. Measurable Results: PPC campaigns provide detailed insights into performance metrics, such as clicks, conversions, and the cost per click. This makes it easy to track your return on investment (ROI) and fine-tune your campaigns for better results.
  5. Increased Traffic & Sales: Since PPC ads are often shown at the top of search results, you can drive targeted traffic to your website quickly, increasing the chances of converting visitors into paying customers.

Is PPC Right for You?

Now that you know how PPC works and its benefits, the next question is whether it’s the right fit for your business. Here are a few things to consider:

1. Your Business Goals

If your goal is to quickly drive traffic to your website or generate leads, PPC is an excellent choice. It’s particularly effective for e-commerce businesses, service-based companies, or any business looking for immediate results.

2. Your Budget

PPC allows flexibility in terms of budget, but it’s important to have a strategy in place. If you have the budget to compete in a competitive market and you’re comfortable with paying for each click, PPC could be a strong addition to your marketing efforts. However, it’s vital to remember that while PPC can drive immediate traffic, it can be expensive if not managed well.

3. Your Industry

PPC can work well in various industries, but some sectors can be more competitive (and costly) than others. For example, legal and financial services often face high costs per click due to the competitive nature of their industries.

4. Your Marketing Mix

PPC should be seen as part of a broader marketing strategy. If you’re already doing SEO, paid social media advertising, or using a printed directory like the Little Blue Books to reach your audience, PPC can complement these efforts and help you dominate search results.

PPC with Local Pages

At Local Pages, we provide a complete range of digital marketing solutions to complement your print directory advertising. Our PPC service is designed to help your business stand out in an increasingly crowded online marketplace. We take care of everything, from keyword research and ad creation to ongoing campaign management and optimization, ensuring you get the best results for your budget.

If you’re unsure whether PPC is the right fit for your business, don’t worry. We offer free consultations and audits to help you evaluate your options and create a marketing strategy tailored to your needs.

Conclusion

PPC can be an incredibly powerful tool for businesses looking to increase visibility and drive traffic online. However, like any marketing strategy, it requires careful planning and management to ensure it delivers a return on investment. If you’re looking to explore how PPC can work for your business, get in touch with our team at Local Pages today. We’re here to help you navigate the digital marketing landscape and find the right solution for your business.

Schedule a free consultation here.

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Top 5 Marketing Trends for 2018

Our Top 5 Marketing Trends for 2018

With 2018 fast approaching we have been exploring New Marketing trends to look out for in 2018.

Here we discuss the 5 trends we believe will be the most influential next year. Let us know your thoughts…

 

 

Augmented Reality 

augmented-reality

Augmented Reality is a fascinating way of enhancing a version of reality, created by overlaying digital information onto an image.  It allows consumers to not simply imagine but actually see potential purchases & designs in ‘real life’, aiding quicker and slicker purchasing.

Brands are quickly jumping on board. IKEA has rolled out an App called Place, which allows customers to preview furniture in their homes before they buy, increasing conversion and customer satisfaction.

This year the new iPhone 8 and iPhone X have also launched with new augmented reality experiences, which will inevitably encourage social media channels to follow suit with new ways of integrating AR onto their platforms.

There is a wide selection of Augmented Reality tools readily available to help businesses achieve 3 main goals:

  1. Streamline and drive sales
  2. Increase engagement
  3. Connect Print & Digital mediums

With Brands finding it difficult to stand out from the crowd, Augmented Reality is being recognised as a powerful tool within the Marketing world.

Here, at Local Pages we can offer iSmart Photo Augmented reality, technology which allows videos and slideshows to appear through your printed adverts. If this is something you would be interested in finding out more about, don’t hesitate click here to get in contact with us today.

 

 

Chatbots 

chatbots

Chatbots are providing customer interface which is instant and can be accessed 24/7, and they are quickly proving to be a successful marketing tool.

The instantaneity of the Chatbots has proven to be popular in a world where customers want issues solved quickly and all answers supplied immediately. These instant messengers save both time and money.

Chatbots also enable businesses the opportunity to customise their own ‘Brand Voice’ and send personalised messages directly to their users/clients, for a truly personable approach, rather than it feeling as though you are conversing with a robot.

In addition, business profitability can also be targeted, with Chatbots providing the opportunity for swift, easy transactions. 47% of consumers have already expressed they would buy directly from a Chatbot (HubSpot, 2017), with 26-36 year olds willing to spend up to £481.15 with a business via a Chatbot interaction (ubisend, 2017).

Between 2016 and 2021 Chatbot marketing is expected to grow at a compound rate of 35.2% (Marketsandmarkets, 2017), so expect to see a lot more Chatbots popping onto your screens!

If you are interested in finding out more about Chatbot Marketing for your Website click here to get in contact with us today.

 

 

Videos 

videos

The way in which we consume video is changing. Video is quickly becoming the number one fastest growing Ad format in the world and has been doubling Year on Year. By 2020 it has been estimated video will make up 80% of all online consumer internet traffic, becoming the closest medium you get to a face to face conversation with your target audience (smartinsights.com)

As with Augmented Reality, Video Ad platforms are helping Brands stand out from the crowd, and allowing for a longer and conceivably more emotionally driven connection with their audience.

If you are looking at creating a company Video we can help you design, plan and produce one here at Local Pages.

Social Media is also a great platform, allowing businesses a quick and easy way to upload videos and reach a wider audience. We offer social media management packages to support your social media needs, and ensure you are offering up to date and relevant content to get the most out of your social media advertising.

Click here to get in contact with us today about your Video and Social Media needs.

 

 

Geofencing 

geo-fencing

Marketers have already been seeing the benefits of Geofencing technology, which allows the collection of information from consumer mobile devices. The technology allows marketers to learn a lot about their audience and in turn allows for businesses and services to target customers in ‘real time’ i.e. sending a promotional message to the customer when they are within a 1 mile radius, or have been searching their website.

This form of targeted hyper-local marketing will increasingly grow more popular and influential, especially for smaller, local businesses who want to engage with only the most relevant local shoppers who are most likely to spend.

According to plotprojects.com, the click-through rate of Geofencing notifications on Androids is 13.6%, which by far exceeds that of generic push notifications, which are only 2%. This indicates sending relevant notifications at the most opportune time encourages increased interaction.

We truly believe in the power of local marketing and have seen this first hand. As experts in the local marketing business, we have proven that our specialised local marketing generates more leads creating higher conversion rates. Click here to find out more about all our products & services.

 

 

Personalised Content 

 

personalised-content2

 

 

 

 

We are expecting to see a growth in personalised content within digital Marketing in 2018. Businesses have already begun to see the benefits of personal call to action marketing. StubHub, an online ticket exchange owned by eBay, reported a 42% improvement when users were given a personalized call to action (accountexnetwork.com).

Personalised content is also best used when different content is targeted to different types or groups of visitors based on their behaviour or other factors. Consumers have different intentions when visiting brands online, and having the ability to appeal to a wider range of people by tailoring digital content to personally appeal strengthens engagement with customers and can have a direct impact on website traffic and ongoing engagement.

As it happens, using Personalised Content doesn’t just mean customers are more likely to engage and buy your products they are also willing to pay more for them too! Consumers truly value a great personalised experience. If that means paying a little more, so be it. A survey from the content marketing institute suggests that 77% of customers will recommend, or pay more for a brand that provides a personalised experience. The better and more personal the experience, the greater the customer’s willingness to spend money on it. If the experience feels exclusive enough, customer will be willing to pay exclusive prices (digitalmarketingmagazine.co.uk).

To find out how we can help you with Personalised content for your business website click here to talk to one of our team members today.

In summary, Marketing is becoming ever more complicated, strategic, personable, engaged, technologically advanced and altogether essential to businesses both large and small.

With over 200 years of industry experience we are experts in marketing, generating millions of new leads for our customers over the past 38 years. We can offer you advice on all your Marketing needs, so do not hesitate to contact us today for a friendly consultation with one of our team.

We recommend having a peek on https://www.hubspot.com/marketing-statistics . It makes for a really interesting read, highlighting how powerful & effective Marketing tools can be!

 

 

 

 

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5 Social Media Strategy Tips For Local Businesses

Whether you’re a multinational corporation or a one-man band, using social media is a powerful and cost-effective way to grow your business. If you’re looking to target customers local to you, here are a few things to consider.

 

  1. JOIN THE COMMUNITY CONVERSATION

It’s one thing posting and tweeting to keep followers updated. But wherever you’re based, there are guaranteed to be online conversations taking place in your community about the things that matter to you. Identifying the most relevant and adding your voice to them is a great way to build valuable connections.

As it’s a conversation and not a sales pitch, being open, friendly and not too “salesy” always helps. As do tagging, @mentioning and using local #hashtags.

 

  1. CONTENT IS KING

There are loads of interesting tools out there to make social output more interesting and engaging. Most are pretty simple to use. Emojis, Vines, Snapchat filters or even the simple act of posting a tweet with an image is proven to significantly increase engagement vs. those without.

Landscape gardener? Try creating gifs that showcase before and after shots. Restaurant? How about a Twitter poll to pick a new dish on the menu?

To see what works, test a few out and stick with the ones people engage with most.

 

  1. KEEP GOING!

Social media never sleeps, so it’s vital to be prepared for the long game. The relatively small pool of a local area means that once people become aware of you online, they’ll expect to hear from you and talk to you on a regular basis.

Having someone permanently dedicated to it is the simplest approach. Though I have other duties at READY, one of my tasks is to manage our social channels. I devote time to it every day, and we’re significantly growing our following as a result.

 

  1. HAVE A PLAN, AND STICK TO IT

It’s important to set a long-term strategy complete with goals and measurable results. Otherwise how do you know if what you’re doing is working

It can be done alone, or with an expert’s help. However, we’d advise keeping day-to-day management in-house. Your staff know your products and the community you’re targeting better than anyone outside your business.

Do ensure they have clear rules and governance to follow, particularly in terms of what’s appropriate to post and what isn’t.

 

  1. THINK ABOUT CAMPAIGNS

As mentioned, regular maintenance is essential for building your business’s profile. But consider dedicated campaigns too, like competitions, promotions or celebrations around particular occasions or local events.

To maximise impact, it’s essential to plan them well in advance and set clear objectives, such as capturing data or generating an uplift in sales. Social platforms offer plenty of nifty tracking options, which you can use to measure performance and identify improvements for future campaigns.

 

Did you like this post? You might also be interested in Choosing The Right Social Media Platforms.

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Welcome to The Little Blue Blog!

Hello and welcome to the Little Blue Blog! We’re so happy you found our little corner of the Internet. Here we hope to provide both practical and informative weekly content on how to effectively market and grow your small business; alongside some interviews with local businesses and snapshots from the areas where our Little Blue Books are distributed. 

Local Pages was founded in 1979 by Boris Bernard. It remains a family company to this day with his two sons, Dan and Ollie at the helm supported by their amazing team. The world has changed a lot since the 70’s. Promoting and marketing your business has never been easier, yet at the same time, it’s more complex than ever with the overwhelming amount of platforms and ways to do this.

We’re passionate about small businesses and our goal is to become a one-stop-shop for all marketing strategy. From advertising in our heritage Little Blue Books to social media and website design & hosting, we’re here to provide solutions. Connecting local people with local businesses is at the core of Local Pages.

Thanks for stopping by! We’re a friendly bunch, so please feel free to comment on or share our posts – we’d love hearing from you. Don’t forget to like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn and please subscribe to The Little Blue Blog.

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